Careers

At the Stamps School, we’re working harder than ever to ensure our students have the networking opportunities, feedback sessions, and professional training they need to parlay their art and design education into a satisfying post-college career.

Recent data from the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP) suggests that individuals who work in design and the arts report some of the highest levels of job satisfaction in America. That’s great news for the approximately 80% of Stampers who end up working in the creative industries post-graduation. How does this stat stack up to other undergraduate programs on a national scale? Nationwide, 74% of individuals who pursued a creative path in their undergraduate studies end up working in their field of study at some point, showing just how hungry 21st Century employers may be for a creative workforce.

The fact that Stamps grads secure highly coveted creative jobs at a higher-than-average national rate is in no way accidental. With a U-M alumni network of 570,000 and a number of Stamps-specific career preparation initiatives including Portfolio Expo, Career Bootcamp, alumni critique visits, workshops, one-on-one coaching, and more, Stamps Students emerge from their undergraduate studies ready to be more than a great national statistic. They are seeking the lifelong satisfaction that seemingly only the pursuit of creativity can provide.

Outcomes

Here's a list of what some of our alumni are doing with their degrees:

I created my own shoe design company

I’m working as a motion capture specialist on the next Avatar movie

I’m a clay modeler at Toyota

I spent a year in the Peace Corps doing graphic design in Zambia

I do interaction design at Twitter

I’m in my final year of an MFA program at University of Iowa

I’m at National Geographic as an art director

I produce, shoot and edit music videos for bands

I’m a concept designer at Converse

I created my own “art” cake business in Ann Arbor

I opened a painting studio in Detroit and sell my work at national galleries

I am the arts coordinator at an after school youth program

I’m a textile designer at Target

I’m a freelance illustrator for clients like Bon Appetit, RadioLab, and others

I started a socially-conscious design firm in Detroit with fellow alums

I fell in love with motorcycles, so now I’m the lead creative for Electric Moto Industries

I’m a materials designer at Ford Motor Company

I’m a project manager at IPC Systems in New York

I’m the art class coordinator for a Manhattan Jewish Community Center

I’m now a lead designer at Synata in San Francisco

Interest in environmental conservation and design led me to a position as Annual Giving Programs Manager for the Matthei Botanical Gardens

I’m a graphic designer for television and feature films

I recently became an art director at Quack! Media

Visit the Alumni Stories section to learn more about the creative paths students choose after Stamps.